I grew up on a small island where everything old had a purpose.

Maybe that’s why I love design with character — homes that mix clean lines with creaky floors, and furniture that’s been around longer than I have. This page is a collection of those things: classic pieces, renovation stories, and ideas for creating spaces that feel thoughtful, warm, and yours. From flea market finds to design legends — welcome to how I live.

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Silas Mortensen 6/1/25 Silas Mortensen 6/1/25

The Case Study Houses: How Experimental Design Built Our Modern Dream

In 2005, I found myself standing outside a house I had only seen in books: Stahl House — Case Study House #22. It was late in the day, and the lights of Los Angeles were beginning to flicker to life below.

Silas Mortensen 3/27/25 Silas Mortensen 3/27/25

The Eames House: Where Function Met Joy and Changed Design Forever

The Eames House is less about showmanship and more about intelligence, joy, and intention. It wasn’t built to impress—it was built to work and inspire. And it still does.

Silas Mortensen 3/21/25 Silas Mortensen 3/21/25

Fallingwater: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterpiece That Floats Above the Forest

Fallingwater isn’t just a home—it’s a manifesto. It whispers instead of shouts. It teaches us that design doesn’t need to impose—it can collaborate. It can flow.